Mauricio Torres
@mauriciotorresjr.bsky.social
communications director @calbudgetcenter.org | lavender library veep | advocating for inclusive public policies, smart work habits, + safe queer spaces | 🪴🇲🇽✈️☕️📚🧘🏽♂️🌈
Visit budgetacademy.org
Visit budgetacademy.org
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
Border czar Tom Homan didn't receive a normal background check for his role while his bribery probe was still ongoing:
Justice officials felt sure Homan would not be able to obtain a security clearance based on the evidence gathered. It remains unclear how Homan was eventually granted clearance.
Justice officials felt sure Homan would not be able to obtain a security clearance based on the evidence gathered. It remains unclear how Homan was eventually granted clearance.
Border czar Tom Homan didn’t receive normal background check during bribery probe
President-elect Trump initially balked at submitting names of likely nominees to the FBI for background checks, a basic step intended to flag possible financial conflicts or ethical problems.
www.ms.now
December 30, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Border czar Tom Homan didn't receive a normal background check for his role while his bribery probe was still ongoing:
Justice officials felt sure Homan would not be able to obtain a security clearance based on the evidence gathered. It remains unclear how Homan was eventually granted clearance.
Justice officials felt sure Homan would not be able to obtain a security clearance based on the evidence gathered. It remains unclear how Homan was eventually granted clearance.
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
The FDA warned companies selling chest binders to register their products as medical devices. Here's how they're responding.
Chest binder vendors respond to 'absurd' FDA warning letter: 'Clearly discrimination'
www.advocate.com
December 29, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The FDA warned companies selling chest binders to register their products as medical devices. Here's how they're responding.
way too may words before barbacoa is mentioned lol
Mysterious vandals are slashing agave plants across these Southern California neighborhoods. What’s behind the cuts and what might the leaves be used for?
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
SoCal agave owners have been hacked. What are thieves doing with those filched leaves?
For the second time in three years, someone has been hacking off and stealing waxy, 2-to-4-foot-long serrated leaves from agave plants at east Torrance homes.
www.latimes.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM
way too may words before barbacoa is mentioned lol
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
Yes, CECOT is a concentration camp in the guise of a prison. The Venezuelans were the first people to *ever* be released from CECOT since Bukele opened the prison in January 2023. Seriously. The first.
These are concentration camps. No other way to describe them. Truly horrific, and none of it surprising in the least.
30 minutes. Some deportees described sexual assault. Detainee describes the guard sexually assaulting most detainees. Lights left on all day. Prisoners not given clean water.
Now the DHS tour. Nobody spoke to the detainees. Noem's video was in a different area of the prison.
Now the DHS tour. Nobody spoke to the detainees. Noem's video was in a different area of the prison.
December 23, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Yes, CECOT is a concentration camp in the guise of a prison. The Venezuelans were the first people to *ever* be released from CECOT since Bukele opened the prison in January 2023. Seriously. The first.
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
New: archivists have distributed the 60 Minutes episode Bari Weiss killed. iCloud, Mega, torrent too. Shows won’t be able to keep this episode offline www.404media.co/archivists-p...
Archivists Posted the 60 Minutes CECOT Segment Bari Weiss Killed
iCloud, Mega, and as a torrent. Archivists have uploaded the 60 Minutes episode Bari Weiss spiked.
www.404media.co
December 22, 2025 at 11:58 PM
New: archivists have distributed the 60 Minutes episode Bari Weiss killed. iCloud, Mega, torrent too. Shows won’t be able to keep this episode offline www.404media.co/archivists-p...
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
This rhetoric isn’t normal and we can’t let it become normal, no matter who is spewing the words. Placing religion alongside statehood is a five alarm fire, especially in a country that was so intentional about separating the two.
JD Vance gets the biggest applause of his speech so far when he says "by the grace of God we always will be a Christian nation"
December 22, 2025 at 5:33 PM
This rhetoric isn’t normal and we can’t let it become normal, no matter who is spewing the words. Placing religion alongside statehood is a five alarm fire, especially in a country that was so intentional about separating the two.
The word is corruption.
His policies are picking winners and losers — and blurring the lines between business and government. n.pr/48P2QSb
How President Trump reshaped capitalism in 2025
His policies are picking winners and losers — and blurring the lines between business and government.
n.pr
December 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The word is corruption.
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
INSIDE EL CECOT (GIFT LINK) The Post's reporting on the Salvadoran prison where the Trump administration sent migrants deported from the United States, based on interviews with 16 former detainees
wapo.st/3KUUv6n
wapo.st/3KUUv6n
‘Welcome to hell’: Inside the megaprison where the U.S. deported migrants
Interviews with 16 former detainees of El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center offer the most complete view yet of conditions inside the notorious prison.
wapo.st
December 22, 2025 at 5:49 AM
INSIDE EL CECOT (GIFT LINK) The Post's reporting on the Salvadoran prison where the Trump administration sent migrants deported from the United States, based on interviews with 16 former detainees
wapo.st/3KUUv6n
wapo.st/3KUUv6n
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
Gender affirming care, but only for cis people I guess. 19thnews.org/2025/12/test...
There’s a testosterone crisis, the FDA says — for cisgender men
The government disapproves of the hormone for transgender people but is enthusiastic about what it could do for cisgender men.
19thnews.org
December 12, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Gender affirming care, but only for cis people I guess. 19thnews.org/2025/12/test...
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
If Biden had said Congressional Republicans should stub a toe, the media (and whatever you call the Nuzzi empowerers) would be calling for his impeachment. They’d be relentless, merciless, and hyperbolic.
But for this president, who called on his supporters to murder Democrats, there’s silence.
But for this president, who called on his supporters to murder Democrats, there’s silence.
November 23, 2025 at 2:16 AM
If Biden had said Congressional Republicans should stub a toe, the media (and whatever you call the Nuzzi empowerers) would be calling for his impeachment. They’d be relentless, merciless, and hyperbolic.
But for this president, who called on his supporters to murder Democrats, there’s silence.
But for this president, who called on his supporters to murder Democrats, there’s silence.
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
They planned to force him to crash or shoot him for recording their crimes. They then accused him of assaulting them. www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/c...
ICE video shows officers planned to ‘smash’ into Charlotte man filming Border Patrol
Immigration agents had a 12-pack of Modelos in their car while making arrests, Miguel Angel Garcia Martinez told investigators.
www.charlotteobserver.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:59 PM
They planned to force him to crash or shoot him for recording their crimes. They then accused him of assaulting them. www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/c...
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
So Bezos is in them too then?
The Washington Post editorial board decided the Epstein files have “no public interest” before even seeing them. That’s a stunning position for any newsroom to take. Praising Clay Higgins as the lone ‘no’ vote, too? No wonder no one trusts legacy media. Absolutely disgusting.
November 22, 2025 at 6:44 PM
So Bezos is in them too then?
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
Trump is being nicer to Mamdani than Democratic leadership was lol
November 21, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Trump is being nicer to Mamdani than Democratic leadership was lol
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
Is it a threat to free speech when the President of the United States threatens to yank the broadcast license of a channel whose reporters are asking him challenging questions?
I ask because I feel like there used to be tons of pundits worried about free speech. Where'd they go?
I ask because I feel like there used to be tons of pundits worried about free speech. Where'd they go?
Trump in response to an Epstein question: "ABC, your company, your crappy company is one of the perpetrators. I think the license should be taken away from ABC because your news is so fake and so wrong. And we have a great commissioner, a chairman, who should take a look at that."
November 18, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Is it a threat to free speech when the President of the United States threatens to yank the broadcast license of a channel whose reporters are asking him challenging questions?
I ask because I feel like there used to be tons of pundits worried about free speech. Where'd they go?
I ask because I feel like there used to be tons of pundits worried about free speech. Where'd they go?
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
The status quo delivered us to this moment of fascist acceleration. As Democratic elites in Washington keep proving, they have nothing to offer but behavior that abets and fosters more of the same. Their trajectory is as fixed as the right's.
November 10, 2025 at 4:15 AM
The status quo delivered us to this moment of fascist acceleration. As Democratic elites in Washington keep proving, they have nothing to offer but behavior that abets and fosters more of the same. Their trajectory is as fixed as the right's.
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
I keep seeing regular Americans taking more risks every day to fight tyranny, want, and cynicism than I see from the opposition party, and I imagine many of those regular Americans are asking themselves what the value proposition of such an opposition party is, really
November 10, 2025 at 4:31 AM
I keep seeing regular Americans taking more risks every day to fight tyranny, want, and cynicism than I see from the opposition party, and I imagine many of those regular Americans are asking themselves what the value proposition of such an opposition party is, really
Less than a week after we felt a glimpse of hope, Democrats cowered and made health care more expensive for millions.
November 10, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Less than a week after we felt a glimpse of hope, Democrats cowered and made health care more expensive for millions.
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
Groceries saw their biggest jump in nearly three years last month, a worrisome sign for inflation-weary shoppers. Tariffs are contributing to higher prices for imported staples like bananas and coffee.
Grocery prices have jumped up, and there's no relief in sight
Groceries saw their biggest jump in nearly three years last month, a worrisome sign for inflation-weary shoppers. Tariffs are contributing to higher prices for imported staples like bananas and coffee.
n.pr
November 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Groceries saw their biggest jump in nearly three years last month, a worrisome sign for inflation-weary shoppers. Tariffs are contributing to higher prices for imported staples like bananas and coffee.
How the Trump Administration Is Giving Even More Tax Breaks to the Wealthy www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/b...
How the Trump Administration Is Giving Even More Tax Breaks to the Wealthy
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:33 PM
How the Trump Administration Is Giving Even More Tax Breaks to the Wealthy www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/b...
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
They should invent a California where you can afford to live
November 8, 2025 at 3:56 AM
They should invent a California where you can afford to live
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
I sincerely hope Democrats pay attention to tonight’s results across the country. They won’t learn anything but still. Maybe. People are excited by change and original campaigns and bold ideas and candidates under the age of 50!
November 5, 2025 at 3:02 AM
I sincerely hope Democrats pay attention to tonight’s results across the country. They won’t learn anything but still. Maybe. People are excited by change and original campaigns and bold ideas and candidates under the age of 50!
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
One in seven Californians rely on CalFresh.
The USDA's attack on the program puts food security at risk for families across the state.
calbudgetcenter.org/resources/us...
The USDA's attack on the program puts food security at risk for families across the state.
calbudgetcenter.org/resources/us...
USDA Refusal to Fund November CalFresh Benefits Threatens Food Security for 5.5 Million Californians
The USDA’s refusal to fund November CalFresh benefits threatens food security for 5.5 million Californians.
calbudgetcenter.org
November 3, 2025 at 5:18 PM
One in seven Californians rely on CalFresh.
The USDA's attack on the program puts food security at risk for families across the state.
calbudgetcenter.org/resources/us...
The USDA's attack on the program puts food security at risk for families across the state.
calbudgetcenter.org/resources/us...
Trump Administration Live Updates: White House Says It Will Make Only Partial SNAP Payments This Month
Meanwhile the President boasts about his White House renovations 😵💫
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Meanwhile the President boasts about his White House renovations 😵💫
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Trump Administration Live Updates: White House Says It Will Make Only Partial SNAP Payments This Month
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Trump Administration Live Updates: White House Says It Will Make Only Partial SNAP Payments This Month
Meanwhile the President boasts about his White House renovations 😵💫
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Meanwhile the President boasts about his White House renovations 😵💫
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Reposted by Mauricio Torres
15 million Americans are going to lose their health care.
October 31, 2025 at 10:04 PM
15 million Americans are going to lose their health care.